Apparatus that helps and physically prepares new riders to ride

ABSTRACT

This invention of mine is perfect for people to prepare their bodies for the transition from a non-horse rider to a successful rider. Actually, it is used for starting to learn control, and develop the strength as well as reflexes, particularly for children needing to reduce weakness to ride. It helps the training for the tough horse riding actions. Often children never achieve to learn to ride because muscle weakness is a barrier. To do this I have created apparatus to finely tune balance and reflexes as well as to strengthen those muscles essential for horse riding. I&#39;ve designed a small inflatable ball that is elevated up to an adjustable height and retained within supportive framework above a big base with curved steel runners. The inflatable ball is unstable so that the user Scan try and balance, sit or bounce on it as well as train the postures and motions for each of the horses&#39; strides. My invention, I believe, is new.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I have 10 years work experience in Healthcare as a Physical Therapist and a bit of my time is spent seeing all ages with some sort of motor power loss and requiring help. That is the problem; a lack of muscular strength, usually post injury, and many are young children that need help. They require exercise training to regain function. During rehabilitation, on many occasions with walking problems, foot injuries and also disabilities, the patient needs help to start regaining control. I came up with a way of rehabilitating difficult injuries and built a successful walking and foot rehabilitation unit. I realised that potentially a small ball elevated up on a supportive base would be great for rehabilitation and people have told me from the start that it helps. Very clearly, I was encouraged to see sitting on in effect an inflatable ball supported high above on a big base, was allowing more action and to see that its was enabling a natural pattern of movement. I have done training programmes, for example, that were quite good and everyone finds these the best way of helping them and enjoy it. The small inflatable ball, (ref 4 (gym balls are wrong), and its positioning of it on a base, enables children to play games and move easily as well as to be as positive as possible about their rehabilitation, actually helps them for years. They use it by either sitting down or standing with their legs back, positioned over the unit and they feel:

-   a) protected from falling on their face or flat on their back -   b) able to swing their legs, as well as allowing them touch the     floor -   c) comfortable and content -   d) amuzed and interested -   e) able to change their position and to move their bodies -   f) freedom

Their weak muscles are strengthened and they build up, enabling them to cope with the movements they use in their daily life. Teaching them for hours is stimulating their motor function without panic of not being able to stay upright. The effect on children is that they love it and try. Conventional equipment is too intense or too abstract in motion.

The first stage in the process of arriving at my invention, was starting training the childrens' bodies, without drugs, to help build up their bodies as well as to behave with the right movements, pain-free. They can do lots using the unit and it's very supportive in treatment. At that time and its still is a solution for children from 5 years old upwards, who needed to strengthen weak legs and torso as well as to improve freedom by range of motion. Events unfolded and I advanced the idea, as I knew how quickly patients developed.

It's very difficult to use generic rehabilitation equipment and after years of seeing that they don't work with poor results, I did suggest using this unit as a walking and foot rehabilitation option. Everything works because there is considerable complexity of joint movement and muscular interaction in controlling the lower limbs, with co-ordinated torso movements as well.

I thought it was about time that horse riding learners had new type of equipment to train, as what they have got doesn't help enough. I realised that one way of another, the sensation of what I had created would work, I thought, to develop aspects of riding musculature for children that grow quickly. I spent a considerable amount of time with children trying to learn to ride and they responded quite well, as well as going on to improve.

I also would suggest to all children starting to ride to try this unit as a good way to help learning getting into position and it was successful in the long term. I have experimented and worked earlier this year on creating a unit to toughen up individuals. Learners feel helpless and at a loss as they are not able to perform the movements and have problems in staying in a good riding position. Using my invention helps them to build motor control. This unit is the solution for actually improving the exact riding techniques and I have found that the effect really enables children to naturally hold stronger riding postures and to start to ride. The results and changes were frankly beyond my expectations.

I think that my invention actually broadly pertains to training equipment.

It really solves a problem as it allows horse riding learners, particularly youngsters, to develop quickly and of course to learn to ride. I do think this is a wonderful way of introducing this traditional activity, which requires expert training techniques, and training with this invention is isolating and recruiting muscles important for controlling tougher motor movements used in riding, such as swinging the legs behind the hips and it works. It also helps in teaching the variety of riding motions and keeps them in a good riding position. This unit is perfect for training reflexes and muscles all essential for horse riding.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Its apparatus that has been designed to help develop muscle strength and to get the right reflexes for riding, enabling users to ride more rapidly, typically within a couple of months. It prepares users bodies for horse riding, particularly youngsters, and helps the transition form a non-horse rider to successful rider. Lack of strength is an important issue and part of the learning experience. A lot of learners never overcome the barrier of lack of strength, they never learn how to ride and continually have lessons for years or fail, an unpleasant experience. Look at FIG. 3 to see the unit in use.

The object is small ball, designed to be elevated up to an adjustable height, above a big base with curved steel runners.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Here is a plan view of the supporting framework, with the ball which is detached, removed. The framework (ref 1) around the ball retains the ball in place. The curved runners (ref 2) are in contact with the ground and the height adjustment device (ref 3) sets the height of the ball, when its placed in the framework.

FIG. 2. This is a section view revealing a height adjustment device (ref 3). The ball has been shown to illustrate that its elevated up on a height adjustment device.

FIG. 3. This diagram shows an example of the apparatus in use. The apparatus is designed to do specialist exercises and also for practising riding techniques.

FIG. 4. Here is an elevation view of the apparatus. The ball (ref 4) is detached and removable from the framework.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I have studied Human Science and provide advice on rehabilitation and when it comes to people with reduced strength using ball shaped apparatus gives the opportunity to build muscle and reactions, importantly by trying to hold challenging positions. I know that many practitioners use the inflatable ball as profession equipment. I must confess that ofcourse a gym ball is the classic example. A gym ball is considerably larger than the ball used in my design, which is about 30 cm in diameter, compared to a gym ball that is usually around 55 cm to 75 cm. Patients want to use balls and they are considered to be the best. Its simply the way a ball moves and people think that its fun. Biomechanically, I haven't seen an easier technique for targeting balance, proprioception and core muscle training. Importantly, balancing and holding challenging positions and postures, builds muscle strength. My design enables people learning to ride horses to build up all-round riding muscles and all the people that have used this apparatus say that its good.

The wide base has curved runners (ref 2) that are made of strong tubular steel so that it moves in multiple ways but is designed not to tip over. As you can see, it has no saddle. The base has a supportive framework at the top of the unit (ref 1) that holds the inflatable ball (ref 4) in place and which is strong tubular steel so that ball bounces back against it. The rider is raised up FIG. 3 and elevated with a leg on either side. It's strong enough to take the whole weight of a large adult, although the context of the design of this equipment is to quickly develop children for riding.

The unit has a height adjustment system according to the height of the user and type of exercise performed. The height can be locked and its envisaged to use a telescopic adjustments device (ref 3). When adjusted up, it allows the legs to swing back behind the rider as seen in FIG. 3, lateral abduction movement, or for many other exercises. Sometimes the rider will need to change the height, so that their legs are weight-bearing or non-weight bearing. It requires more effort and the exercises are more challenging when the user is raised up. This is more like riding without stirrups and will take some adjustment as well. 

1. (canceled)
 2. An apparatus for improving balance, proprioception and core muscle strength, the apparatus comprising an inflatable ball, said inflatable ball detachably held within a supportive framework around the inflatable ball that retains the inflatable ball in place, wherein the framework further has a wide base with curved runners in contact with the ground to allow movement, wherein the framework is height adjustable.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inflatable ball is about 30 cm in diameter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the framework is made of tubular steel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the framework is telescopically adjustable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the framework further comprises a handle suitable for being gripped by the hand of a user, positioned above the height of the inflatable ball.
 7. A method for improving balance, proprioception and core muscle strength of a user, the method comprising the steps of (1) providing a user, (2) providing an apparatus comprising an inflatable ball, said inflatable ball detachably held within a supportive framework around the ball that retains the inflatable ball in place, wherein the frame has a wide base with curved runners in contact with the ground to allow movement, wherein the frame is height adjustable, wherein the ball is about 30 cm in diameter, and wherein the framework further comprises a handle suitable for being gripped by the hand of a user, positioned above the height of the ball, (3) the user sitting with a leg on either side on the ball, (4) the user swinging his/her legs back behind the user to provide lateral abduction movement.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user further adjusts the height of the apparatus.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the user's legs are weight-bearing.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the user's legs are not weight-bearing.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the method strengthens legs and torso of the user with a view to improve horse riding. 